A critical review of 'English' in China's English education: How far can Chinese teachers embrace ELF?

Abstract

While ELF research offers implications for English pedagogy in non-native English contexts, research needs to be done to understand the feasibility of ELF-oriented classroom practices in specific local contexts to concretise a proposal for ELF pedagogy. We consider classroom teaching in the educational context where language policy interacts with language perceptions and practices, seeking to understand the extent to which Chinese teachers can embrace ELF. With a focus on teacher agency, the study explores language policy, classroom practice and teacher perspectives on English as a subject matter of English education. The findings point to the discussion the interaction between teacher agency and policy constraints. The article ends with the suggestion that the approach to English in China's education policy should be reconsidered and that the debates on ELF in relation to Chinese speakers are necessary for possible changes in education policy

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